Best Shopping – Northern Beaches, Sydney

Whether it’s your friend’s 30++ birthday, engagement or housewarming, you want to give something that’s really wanted. You could give yet another lovely candle (same as everyone else) or GroupTogether for one gift she’ll treasure. GroupTogether makes collecting the money from the gang a breeze, even creating a group card with everyone’s pic and messages. The only thing left to do is to go shopping! Why not make a day of it somewhere spesh.

We asked those in the know for their tips and thought we’d share. Grab your bestie and away you go. FYI: None of these businesses are affiliated with us. We asked our network for tips and went for a day trip. Hope you like them too.

Beautifully curated, there’s furniture, accessories, bed linen, light jewellery, lighting (chandeliers and pendant shades) in neutrals from places far and exotic. Perfect for a beachy eclectic feel. You’ll need to group together to fund some of the special pieces but worth it! Enjoy.

Heavenly store for lovers of vintage furniture. Guaranteed to make your brand new renovation look lived in and loved. Unlike so many shops filled with “faux” antiques, these pieces feel real and lovingly selected. Each piece looks like it has a story to tell. The helpful owners will even hire out some pieces for parties. Check out the ice cream stall! Julie sat in the chairs below and gave them the thumbs up for comfort (I’m generally the more princess of the two of us, but she’s definitely the Princess from Princess and the Pea). But, back on task…

Mamapapa – Avalon
For kids’ clothes and accoutrements, this charming store hidden away down an alleyway stocks the owners line Mamapapa, along with brands such as Album di Famiglia Store, Atelier Atsuyo et Akiko, Jess Brown Design, Numéro 74, and Muskhane. The clothes are mostly natural fibres and neutral colours, giving them an organic feel. Perfect to create a hamper for a baby shower or just buy a gift voucher and let your friend choose. This is the stuff you’d want to dress didums in if you had your “drathers”.

Directly across from MamaPapa is this tiny store selling Moroccan leather poufs, blankets with giant pom poms, Tunisian towels, Uashmama paper bags and exoticly embroidered clutches and other tactile gifts and pretty things. There’s a more comprehensive range on online but for those who like to feel before they buy, here it is.

Beechwood Furniture – Avalon. Beachy, Nantucket-esque furny and homewares along with some charmingly quirky bits for kids. Mad about these felt animal heads which double as hooks. Our kind of taxidermy.

Just in, the new range of Samantha Robinson ceramics – the perfect thing to replace the tea set your friend received for her wedding which is now ready for Vinnies.

Sister restaurant to equally gorgeous restaurant at Balmoral. Sit with a glass of wine, gaze out to sea and pretend this is your real life. Admire the healthy quinoa, avocado, carrot and labne salad and then order the fish and chips, coffee and cake. Go with someone chubby and feel lean.
(warning: closed Good Friday and Easter Monday)